Mount Airy rides Mason, defense to North Carolina 1A title

RALEIGH, N.C. – Quarterback Ian Gallimore took the final snap from his shotgun victory formation at Carter Finley Stadium on Saturday, throwing the ball as high and far as possible. Celebrations among Mount His Airy faithful in the stands had already begun, as did a series of hugs along the Bears’ sidelines.

Mount Airy once again won the NCHSAA 1-A State Football Championship, beating Tarboro 20-7 with a dominant defensive performance. This is the Bears’ first state championship since 2008 and her seventh overall.

Running back Tyler Mason was a star player for the Bears, rushing for 139 yards on 23 rushes and winning all three Mount Airy touchdowns as the Most Valuable Player award.

“I was seeing the linemen really off the ball and I had a good view of the hole,” Mason said. “I took advantage of those holes and went up the field. I tried

And the Bears’ defense shut down an explosive Tarboro offense, entering the game averaging 44 points and 400 yards of offense per game, while Walker Stroop recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. to secure the victory. Stroop was named Outstanding Defensive Player and he downed two punts inside the 20-yard line.

The Vikings were able to muster their lone touchdown run to Mason Sutterfield and 179 total offense yards in the third quarter. This is his sixth consecutive appearance in his game of the 1-A Championship for Tarboro, of which he has won four.

Mount Airy coach J.K. Adkins said, “I think one of our identities over the last two years has been defense.” ‘s coaching staff does a great job planning the games each week and I think the biggest thing we do is play with tremendous effort and the players are playing both ways. , we saw that in the closing stages of the game, finding ways to stop the ball when we needed it.I think the level of effort sets us apart.”

The Bears may not be over. Most of their key players will be back next season.

“It’s easy to look at a roster and make predictions for next year, but it can also be dangerous,” said Adkins, who became the first Bears manager to win a state title. “We have a small senior class of eight and we miss them. The defensive linemen played it’s easy to project but I don’t think so now we’re grateful for what happened and also for next year we’re going to have our strength again I also understand that I have to prove

Tarboro manager Jeff Craddock said he knew his team had a difficult task ahead of them in the title game.

Craddock said: “It’s a shame to end a great season. It’s no disrespect for Mt Airy.They’re the better team and they won it.I’m happy with their program.They did the opening drive. Executed perfectly and we were down quickly and couldn’t attack anything. They were solid at the line of scrimmage.”

Mason’s 15-yard touchdown run on the opening drive gave the Bears a 7–0 lead. He added a 1-yard scoring run with 2:29 left in the first half to give Mount Airy a 14–0 lead at halftime. He added another 1-yard scoring run early in the third quarter to push the lead to 20–0.

Tarboro, who finished the season 14-2, could only manage a 9-yard touchdown run by Mason Sutterfield with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter.

JK Adkins, coach of Mount Airy, whose team finished 15-1, said, “I’m so grateful and blessed to be surrounded by these guys and those in the locker room.” I love these guys they have champion hearts tonight I’m so proud of our team and I’m so proud of our community and our school this is an amazing experience and I feel blessed.”

Mount Airy 7 7 6 0 — 20

Tarboro 0 0 7 0 — 7

MA—Mason 15 runs (Stroop kick)

MA—Mason 1 Run (Stroop Kick)

MA – Mason 1 Run (Kick Miss)

T – Satterfield 9 Run (Craddock Kick)